Introduction

Ratnavalisamudra means something in Jainism, Prakrit. If you want to know the exact meaning, history, etymology or English translation of this term then check out the descriptions on this page. Add your comment or reference to a book if you want to contribute to this summary article.

In Jainism

General definition (in Jainism)

Ratnāvalisamudra (रत्नावलिसमुद्र) is the name of an ocean (samudra) surrouding the continent of Ratnāvalidvīpa (or simply Ratnāvali), according to Jain cosmology. The Ratnāvalisamudra and Ratnāvalidvīpa are situated in the middle-world (madhyaloka), which contains innumerable concentric continents (dvīpa), each surrounded by their own ocean. The middle-world, as opposed to the upper-world (adhaloka) and the lower-world (ūrdhvaloka), is the only world where humans can be born. Ratnāvalisamudra is also known as plainly Ratnāvali.

Ratnāvalisamudra is recorded in ancient Jaina canonical texts dealing with cosmology and geography of the universe. Examples of such texts are the Saṃgrahaṇīratna in the Śvetāmbara tradition or the Tiloyapannatti and the Trilokasāra in the Digambara tradition.

Source: Wisdom Library: Jainism

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